The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-24
An INSANE MANS LEAP
FROM A THIRD STORY WINDOW
TO HE PAVEMENT BELOW.
Delirium Tremens Prompts George
Lang, a Tinker, to Court q
Horrible Death.

While passing along Main street,
near the corner Of Washington, at IL 80
o'clock last night, Sergeant Koran
heard an unusual noise in the alley
between Main and Second, in the rear
of the st. Nicholas hotel. 1t re-
sembled the falling OF some heavy
weight, with window glass and sash
accompaniment. He hurried to the
scene and found a German man
about thirty.6ve years old, perit ely
nude, lying on the lock pave
ment, his limbs doubled under
him and apparently liteless.
The officer lent assistance to
the unfortunate man, aud In response
to the effort, he sat upright for mo-
msnt, then fell backward limp, and
without uttering word or gfoan.
Blankets we're procured on which the
il jurl d man was conveyed iuto the
dining room OF the hotel and laid on
the floor. DR.. MCGEE was summoned,
but all efforts toward bringing him
around failed, aud death resulted in
about twenty minutes. The N aus
right thigh hone was badly shat cred
and two Of his ribs broken, besides
internal injuries.
No one around the place knew any
thing about the man further than that
his name vas registered as Charles
Lang. He came into the hotel about
$50 O'Clock and aeked for nights
lodging. The bookkeeper and clerk
learned that the man had no money,
but Rs he seemed in pitable condition,
nervous and trembling like leaf, a
rear room on the third floor was as
signed him. He went up Immediately
and retired, attracting no unusual at.
tention until a few moments before the
fatal leap was made. George Rane,
bis room mate, retired shortly after 10
o'clock, and had dozed off, when he
was aroused by three loud yells. He
demonstrated with the disturber, re-
marking emphsticslly that he did not
like any such foolishness. Soon alter
ward Lang jumped out OF bed and
rushed toward the rear window, COM
ing in contact with the foot Of Rane's
bed. The obstacle proved only tempo
rsry, however, as passing around 1t in a
hurry he soon reached the window,
hurriedly raised II and plunged head
long to the pavement below, a dis
lance OF forty feet.
Deputy Coroner Barry held an in.
quest, but developed nothing beyond
the above facts, except that the leap
was evidently made in q fit OF delirium
tremens. While Lang secured moth
ing TO drink ut the st. Nicholas bar,
his appearance indicated disordered
mind. He said three negroes were
after him, and at the time the bar
keeper supposed the statement cor
rect. His nervous, unessy look
was accounted for on this ground.
Subsequent proceedings, however,
explained the situation more COM
pletely, and verdict based on these
facts Was returned. The remains will
be turned over to County Undertaken
Walsh for interment, unless something
unexpected comes TO light.
Officer W. @. Faver states that the
suicide has been in Memphis several
days, his occupation being that Of q
tinker, and his haunts along Poplar
street. Further than that nothing Ia
known. Sergeant Koran inside q
search Of his effects, . dilapidated
suit OF clothes, but found only half q
loaf Of bread, an exhausted electric
light carbon, and Barlow knife. An
exapinAtion oi tho premises REVEALED
the fact that them noise resembling
crashing window panes was caused by
the body coming in contact with the
electric light wires. The window o.
| tha rnnn uaa fnnnd 10 ha intact